This section is essentially an executive wing of the Water Development Board providing it with the necessary information for the control of abstractions.  With an increase in the population, the demand for water for power generation, direct consumption and other uses has increased.  This has led to conflicting demands on the resource.  The section, under its specific units studies demand patterns and recommends the best sources to meet demand in various areas.

The section is organised into three units which are Informatics Unit, Water Rights Management Unit and Water Quality Management Unit.  Their functions are elaborated below.

Projects under this section include:

• Water Resources Action Programme (WRAP) currently funded by EU facility and whose main aim objective is to 
• Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) supported by Danida whose main objective is to

Water Rights Management Unit

• Develop water resources guidelines considering both quality and  quantity; and
• Co-ordination of nation wide drilling activities in view of groundwater development at catchment and regional level;
• To develop and implement conservation and water re-use policies as part of Water Resources Management; 
• Providing technical support to the Water Development Board on National Water allocation;
• Assess current and project future sectoral (irrigation, industry, Hydropower) demands in line with National Development plans;
• Approve all designs for hydraulic structures related to Water rights before final approval by the Water Board;
• Encouraging investments in the application of Water saving technologies and the use of Water saving structures, methods and systems;
• Preparing Water management plans for different river basins.
• Flood/Drought mitigation and management; and
• Data capture and management.

Water Quality Management Unit

This unit is responsible for setting up a continuous water quality-monitoring  network in order to ascertain the quality of water at selected locations.  It recommends the best source of water for various uses depending on the quality of the water.  Some of the broad activities are listed below:-

• Collect relevant data to determine the required water quality-monitoring network for both ground and surface water;
• Design the water quality-monitoring network for both ground and surface water;
• Embark on studies on the effect of land-use practices on water quality;
• Embark on studies on Groundwater pollution sources
• Production of water quality maps and information; and
• Carry out test on water samples;

Hydro Informatics Unit

• Collection of raw data on the water resource;
• Data analysis and deciphering; and
• Provision of information on abstractions.